The groups say the president does not have the authority to revoke an earlier president's ocean protections under federal law.

The suit, filed in Alaska, is likely to be the first of many challenging the administration’s goal of expanding fossil fuel production.

A coalition of conservation organizations has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in an attempt to stop it from allowing more drilling off the country’s coasts, including in California. The group said it is challenging President Donald Trump’s “illegal order to open protected areas of the ocean to future oil and gas leasing.

US conservation groups filed a lawsuit against the administration of US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, claiming the administration violated the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act by issuing an

Several climate advocacy groups claim that the US President's undoing of marine protections is illegal. View on euronews

Joining the Sierra Club and Greenpeace, legal action has been taken to top the president from opening up more coastal waters to drilling.

Green groups on Wednesday launched the first environmental challenges against the new Trump administration, targeting plans to expand offshore drilling.